At bedtime the other night, my four year old son asked, “Dad, you love Star Wars, don’t you?” Was he using a Jedi mind trick to delay his bedtime (I thought a saw a small wave of his hand)? At first, I was tempted to answer but resisted as we prepared for bedtime. Everyone around the office knows I love Star Wars. So naturally one of my favorite yearly events is Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. By default, I’m often roped into the development process for the event pins we create. Here are a few of my favorites coming this year.
In 2009, we released the first Passholder Exclusive pin for Star Wars Weekends which sold out faster than the time it took the Millennium Falcon to make the Kessel run (12 parsecs for those trivia nuts). This year, Jeanne Lewis, developer for signature event pins, created an incredible new Passholder pin (pictured left) featuring Han Solo in Carbonite. We have doubled the edition size to ensure more Passholders have the opportunity to get this pin (except for me, who is not a Passholder!) Jeanne also created a Disney Vacation Club Member Exclusive pin (pictured right) using artwork once considered for the main Star Wars Weekends 2010 logo (Tauntaun smell not included). This is the first time we will offer such a pin for DVC Members.
As in previous years, we will offer a collection of individual limited edition pins. This year, there will be a packaged set and a framed set each offering completer pins (see the AT-AT and Yoda pins above). I love these individual pins as they remind me of the packaging for all of Star Wars action figures I had as kid (which I didn’t save!).
One of the “most impressive” pins is this super jumbo pin that was inspired by the 30th Anniversary super jumbo pin we created for Star Wars Weekends 2007. This thing is almost like the “size of a small moon” and contains various scenes from Episode V. For non-Passholders like me, here is an opportunity to get Han Solo in Carbonite.
Finally, Julie Young, developer for open edition pins, created several new pins to coincide with the weekend events. You may have heard about R2-MK – Jedi Mickey’s new astromech droid. It will be the droid pin you are looking for this year. We are also releasing a new mystery pin set featuring The Muppets dressed as characters from the Star Wars films. These pins were inspired by the Disney Parks exclusive action figures.
By now you are probably wondering how I answered my son’s question. I told him, “I am your father, and yes, I love Star Wars. Join me at Star Wars Weekends this year and together we can rule the ‘World’ as father and son.” (or something like that). Look for additional release information about these pins on DisneyPins.com. May the Force Be With You.
Comments
My husband is going to LOVE the Passholder pin! Do we just go to the normal spots to look for this pin or will it be something we have to ask for and then show our pass to purchase? Thanks! Looking forward to our 1st Star Wars Weekend!!
A Star Wars fan, a Disney Cast Member AND a proud father!? I sense a great amount of awesomeness in you… 😉
what is the edition size on the DVC pin?
Calvin,
The Disney Vacation Club pin will have an edition size of 1200. The Passholder Exclusive pin will have an edition size of 4000.
These are tooo cool I hope that I can get some when we come down the end of this month!!
YES!! Another year, another awesome set of Star Wars Weekends pins. I look forward to displaying these beauties on my lanyard at “Trade City, USA” for all to see and enjoy! Out of all the pins I own, it’s the SWW pins that get the biggest reaction from all the pin fans who flock to Epcot every year.
Kudos, Steve. The Force is strong in you!
I love the pin designs for this year, particularly the AT-AT and Snowspeeder. Can’t wait for Star Wars weekends this year.
Steven – Pins look great. Oh, and a Parsec is a distance, not a time.
Very excited for these pins! We won’t make it down until the last weekend. I don’t suppose there’s any way Passholders can order online or anything? Sounds like that’s not possible. Would love the Han Solo in carbonite.
Mary – Passholders will have to attend Star Wars Weekends in order to purchase the Passholder Exclusive pin. We won’t be offering it on line. I too love the Han Solo pin – it looks even better in person. Wait … your last name isn’t Fett, is it? 🙂
These are great looking pins, how can I get some?
AWESOME pins! I think parsecs is a unit of distance, not time though. Looking forward to our May visit for a Star Wars weekend!
Melissa – I stand corrected. A parsec is a unit of distance (kind of like a “league,” I guess). Okay, so how about faster than Darth Vader pulled Han Solo’s blaster from his hand at the dinner table? Or faster than Luke left his Jedi training on Dagobah to save his friends?
Will DLR have any new Star Wars releases? ny possibility will see the R2-MK?
We have a couple of additional open edition pins that will also be released at Disneyland Resort later in 2010.
See the DisneyPins.com Blog entry for December 24, 2009:
http://eventservices.disney.go.com/pintrading/event?id=48659#20091224
Typically, open edition pins are shared between California and Florida. The Star Wars Weekends 2010 pins, however, will only be released in Florida.
LOVE the pins. I assume we have to be there to get them. I’m a DVC member, can we get that one. We might have to detour after our 25th anniversary Disney Cruise and come by just for SW and to grab pins! We are CRAZY about SW. Have attended 3 prior events!
Carrie – Glad you like them! Yes, Disney Vacation Club Members will have to attend Star Wars Weekends in order to purchase the pins. They will only be released at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. DVC Members just need to show their valid DVC ID in order to purchase the DVC Exclusive pin.
Pretty sure the odds of navigating the asteroid field are 3,720 to 1. Not 100% sure though. Also where would you go to get your hands on some of these pins?
These pins will be released during Star Wars Weekends 2010 starting May 21 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. See more info here:
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/hollywood-studios/special-events/star-wars-weekend/?int_cmp=SOC-intDPFY10Q1SWWPins02-04-10@0001
Once final release locations are finalized (typically we have a specially designed merchandise location during the weekend events), we will post that information on http://www.DisneyPins.com.
And the odds of surviving a night on Hoth?
Love it! Oh, and the falcon make the Kessel run in LESS than 12 parsecs!
Craig – Kessel is being corrected. Thanks for the catch. Must have been that “i” before “e” thing. Always happens to me 🙂
Lacey – Bonus points! Glad you like the pins and that you know your trivia. So do you know the odds of successfully navigating an asteroid field? Hope to see you at the weekends.
Great pins! By the way, Kessel in the Kessel Run is spelled Kessel, not Kessle. 🙂
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